Means for observing the interiors of fire-boxes of automobile steam-generators.



F. I. DU FONT. MEANS FOR OB SERVING THE INTERIORS OF FIRE BOXES OF AUTOMOBILE STEAM GENERATORS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, I917- 1,285,650. I PatentedNov. 26, 1918.

F/GJ. 2

- a citizen of the United Wilmington,

UNITED S ATES Pi TE FRANCIS I. nU'PdN'I-l, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

MEANS FOR OBSERVING THE INTERIORS F FIRE-BOXES a -.GENERA'IORS.

Specification of iietters Patent.

01? ,AUTOMOB'ILEVSTEAM- Application filed February 26,1917. Serial No. 151,067.

T all wkomz'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS I. DU PONT, States, residing at county of New Castle, and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Observing the Interiors of Fire-Boxes of Automoany time readily,

bile Steam-Generators,-of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

p then make the examination. Ordinarily, in

the event that the flame is extinguished, the

driver is unaware of, the condition until after the boiler has cooled down substantially below the, range of normal efiiciency, and time is lost, and further cooling occurs, in reigniting, and further'time is lost until the boiler'is restored to normal efficiency. It is obvious that if means were afforded to enable the driver to instantly, at any moment, apprise himself of conditions within the fire-box of the boiler, much. delay and annoyance would be saved. It is-the object of my invention to provide means whereby at all times thefiiaifie within the fire-Box may be readily observed without the necessity of the driver stopping the car or movingfrom his seat. r

A preferred embodiment of theinventio is shown inthe drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view, in elevation of a steam boiler andobservation means;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.,

Fig. '3 is a detail sectional view of the observation devices.

Figl 4 is a perspective view of'the same. The boiler is located, as usual, within the hood a and is sheathed in a non-heat conparticularly to maintain the fuel ducting cover I). I Between the tubes 0 and grate d of the boiler is a coil of pipe f communicating with a supply pipe e, controlled by a valve 6' and leading from atank (not NT onnion;

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

shown) containing liquid fuel, such as gasolene or kerosene. The coil of pipe f is prolonged outside the boiler, its extremity extending into an orifice g in the fire-box wall beneath the grate. Located above the grate a3 is a small supplemental grate it, below which extends the end-0f a relatively small pipe 71. This pipe is formed into a small coil abOX'G grate it and thence extends outside the fire-box into communication with the main supply pipe 6 behind the valve 6'. liquid which is vaporized in pi e i is maintained constantly ignited and orms a pilot light for the ignition of the main supply of liquid fuel which is vaporized in pipe f box by opening the valve- 6'.

There is nothing of patentable novelty in whenever the same is admitted to the firethe construction above described and it will be understood that the construction of the boiler and its described appurtenances may be substantially modified without making less applicable thereto the features of novelty embodying my invention, which will now be described.

Communicating with the rear of the firebox is a tubular member m, which preferably extends horizontally, and,'in the construction of boiler shown, on a level with i the part of the fire box above the grateor burner. so that it will directlyaline with the body of flame above the grate or burner. The rearof'tho tube miis flanged andbehind the tube is an open-topped box n which is-similarly flanged and abuts against the.

The

rear of tube m. one of the abutting me'fif t rs being cut awav. as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

to permit-of the insertion of av square of glass or other transparent medlum 0, which closes communication between the members 'm' and n. Springs 7), secured (say) to the front. flangedend of member 41, hold the glass pressed against the rear flanged end of member m.

Arranged obliquely between the bottom and rear faces of the box n is. a mirror '1".

V The mirror preferably extends throughout a height at least equal to the heightof the interior of the tubular member m and is arranged at such an angle that light rays passing rearwardly will be deflected upwardly at an angle that will about meet the eye of the operator when sitting in a normal position. An inclined tube 8 is secured to,

and closes, the top of the box 11., and is arranged at such an angle that its axis is parallel with the deflected rays of light.

' readily removable (to facilitate cleaning) and replaceable.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I desireto claim and protect by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a steam generator, of an outside tube connecting with an opening in the fire-box and extending away from the fire-box, a light transmitting medium closing said tube at adistance from the wall of the fire-box, and a light deflecting medium arranged behind the light transmitting medium.

2. The combination with a steam generator, of an outside tube connecting with an opening in the fire-box and extending away from the vfire-box, a light transmitting medium arranged in said tube to obstruct the escape of heated. gases therethrough, and a light deflecting medium arranged behind the light transmitting medium.

e an opening in the fire-box and extending away from the fire-box, a light transmit.

ting-medium, means on the tubular structure to removably hold said light transmitting medium in position to obstruct the escape of heated gases through the -tube, and a light deflecting medium arranged behind the light transmitting medium.

4. The combination with a steam generator, of a tubular structure connecting with an opening in the generator and extending toward the fire-box, a light transmitting medium, means on the tubular structure to removabl'y hold said light transmitting medium in position to obstruct. the escape of heat through the tube, an'upw'ardly inclined tube arranged behind the light transmitting medium and connected with the first tube, and a light deflecting medium arranged at the junction of the two tubes and acting to deflect rays of light passing through the first tube and the light transmitting medium through the second tube.

5. In a steam motor driven vehicle the combination with the'fire-box of a steam generator, of a bent sight tube extending from the fire-box, a light deflecting medium located in the bend of the tube, and a transparent closure within the tube between the light deflecting medium and the fire-box and'closing the tube against the passage of air or flame.

6. In a steam motor driven vehicle, the combination with the fire-box of asteam generator, of a sight tube extendin horizontally from an opening in the ire-box and thence inclined upwardly at an obtuse angle to the horizontal section, alight deflecting medium located at the junction of the two sections, and a transparent closure within the horizontal section of the tube between .the light deflecting medium and the fire-box and closing the tube against the passage of air and flame.

In testimony of which invention} have hereunto set my handat Wilmington, Dela ware, on this 24th day of February,*1917.

FRANCIS I. DU T. 

